ἀπολούω (apolouō)
apolouō
to wash off
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb apolouō literally means to wash something off or away. It appears only twice in the New Testament, yet it carries significant weight in describing spiritual cleansing. The word is formed from the prefix apo, indicating removal, and louō, meaning to wash. This combination emphasizes the complete removal of dirt or stain.
In Acts 22:16, Paul recounts Ananias’s command to him: "Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins." Here, the middle voice suggests washing oneself, linking physical baptism with the removal of guilt. Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 6:11, Paul reminds believers that some of them were once defiled but now have been washed clean. The term highlights a decisive act of purification rather than a gradual process.
Translators often render this word as "wash away" or "cleansed," capturing its sense of total removal. While the physical act of washing is central, the biblical usage points to a deeper reality: the cleansing of moral defilement through faith and obedience. This vivid imagery connects the tangible act of bathing with the spiritual truth of forgiveness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word apolouō paints a vivid picture of complete removal. It is not a gentle rinse but a thorough washing that takes dirt away entirely. When we look at Acts 22:16, we see this power in action. Paul is told to wash away his sins through baptism. This shows us that God’s grace does not just cover our mistakes; it removes them fully.
In 1 Corinthians 6:11, Paul reminds the church of their own story. They were once defiled, but now they are clean. This change is decisive and final. It is a reminder that your past does not define you. God’s cleansing work in Christ leaves no stain behind.
This truth offers great comfort. You do not need to carry the weight of old failures. The same power that washed Paul also washes you. Rest in the fact that you are fully forgiven and made new. This is a gift of grace, given freely to all who believe.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you were washed1×
- do yourself wash away1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀπόλουσαι1×
- ἀπελούσασθε1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 22:16
Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
This verse links the physical act of baptism with the spiritual reality of sin being completely removed through calling on the Lord.
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I Corinthians 6:11
Some of you were such, but you were washed. You were sanctified. You were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.
Here the word highlights the decisive change in identity for believers, moving from defilement to sanctification and justification.